LONG BEACH, Calif. – The UCLA women’s volleyball team ushered in the Matt Werle era with an emphatic four‑set victory over Long Beach State on Friday night inside a packed LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid, seizing command after a narrow opening‑set setback.
Set scores were 25-27, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20.
The Bruins are now 9-3 in their last 12 season openers, including back‑to‑back wins at The Beach to begin their season.
After dropping a tight first frame, Werle’s squad corrected course, regained its rhythm, and rattled off three straight sets to secure his first win at the helm.
Middle blocker Marianna Singletary delivered a blistering, all‑around performance, striking for a team‑high 16 kills on a .429 clip while roofing nine total blocks, including two emphatic solos. Her presence at the net repeatedly snuffed out Long Beach swings and propelled UCLA’s defensive command.
Four Bruins reached double‑figure kills, highlighted by Ava Utterback, who filled up the stat sheet in her UCLA debut with a double‑double (11 kills, 10 digs). Freshman Brooke Harwood was outstanding in her first collegiate action, depositing 11 kills at a .450 rate and adding five blocks (one solo). Maggie Li connected for 11 kills and eight digs, providing steady siding‑out production throughout the night.
Setter Kate Duffey inscribed 45 assists while finishing one dig shy of a double‑double, steering the Bruins to a .304 team hitting percentage and delivering timely dump‑kills and precision 2‑sets to keep the offense in rhythm.
In the back row, Lola Schumacher anchored the defense with 13 digs and five assists, while newcomers Vivian Hickman (nine digs), Presley Thompson (four digs), and Mija Bendziute all made strong contributions in their collegiate debuts.
UCLA and Long Beach State traded blows throughout a tight opener, with LBSU jumping out to early leads at 3-0 and 6-4 behind kills from Hamaker and Birkelbach. UCLA trimmed the deficit and briefly took command at 7-6 and 10-9, sparked by Urzua and a Schumacher service ace. The momentum of the frame swung repeatedly UCLA’s block snuffed out multiple LBSU swings. LBSU regained a slim buffer at 16-13 behind a Murphy ace and Hope kill, but UCLA surged back to 19-17 after Singletary and Li connected. The Bruins stayed in contention, tying it at 24-24, but LBSU clinched the set with back‑to‑back points to securing the opening frame.
UCLA corrected course immediately, capitalizing on a Maxwell service error to open the set. Long Beach briefly pushed out to a 6-3 lead, but the Bruins sparked a rally behind Utterback, Harwood, and a blistering Schumacher ace to even the frame. From 12-11 onward, UCLA took command, rattling off a series of siding‑out points as Harwood deposited a kill, Singletary roofed Hamaker, and Li blasted one down the line. The Bruins steadily extended their buffer to 20-10, their block snuffing out multiple Beach swings. Singletary and Utterback supplied the finishing touches, and UCLA disposed of the second set, 25-19.
The third set mirrored the ebb and flow of the opener. UCLA jumped out early before Long Beach rattled off a 7-0 surge to seize a 17-13 lead. The Bruins stayed in contention, trimming the deficit with kills from Singletary, Li, and Harwood while Duffey’s tempo kept the offense connected. UCLA whittled the margin to 21-20, then regained advantage at 23-22 behind Harwood and Urzua. Li, Harwood, and Utterback hammered consecutive kills to help secure the frame in the closing stages, and UCLA clinched the set 25-23.
The final frame opened evenly, but UCLA’s defense quickly established control. Singletary’s roof and Harwood’s block assist propelled the Bruins into a narrow 15-14 lead, which soon stretched into a decisive run. UCLA seized seven of the next eight rallies, with Li and Harwood connecting on back‑to‑back swings and Duffey adding a timely block. The Bruins extended their advantage to 22-18, maintaining command throughout the closing stretch. Harwood’s late kill and Utterback’s finishing blow helped UCLA close out the night with a 25-20 victory.
The Bruins will host Long Beach State tomorrow at 7 p.m. PT for their home opener inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. The contest will be available for viewing on B1G+.